Mary Checks In After the UF Football Game!

Last night was the much-anticipated game between the Gators and the LSU Tigers. The Swamp, which is what we affectionately call the Ben Hill Griffin football stadium, was packed with more than 90,000 roaring students and alumni. Well, there was a tiny corner of purple and gold, but they were utterly tromped!

Now, let me back up a bit. Athletics are HUGE at the University of Florida, and UF is immensely proud of their basketball and football national championships. On game days, the amount of school spirit is overwhelming, and pretty shocking if you've never experienced it yourself. Swarming bodies of orange-and-blue cover the campus as far as the eye can see, and Gator paraphernalia proudly adorn buildings and cars. Beyond the appearance, the atmosphere on campus overflows with anticipation and excitement. The tailgating tradition before games are the most fun. Fans line the streets, taking over all the quads and fields. My roommate and I walked around campus and came across tons of enthusiastic tailgaters, both Gators and Tigers, who cheered as we went by.

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At UF, even if you think you don't like or understand football, the school pride is extremely infectious. You can't help but be sucked into the Gator spirit, and watching the rush of a beautiful touchdown alongside tens of thousands of screaming fans is unbelievably electrifying. I have friends who go to M.I.T. and Duke who tell me everyday how much they miss the exhilaration that comes with the Gator football season.